In working on these skills, Bynum’s had one of the NBA’s all-time great centers in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar by his side, encouraging him each and every step of the way.

“Kareem’s a really good teacher,” Bynum said. “He has a lot of wisdom in the game. In 20 years, he had virtually every record as a big man.”

“My trainer and Kareem just keep telling me that I’m here and I’m ready to do what needs to be done.”

While some young players might feel pressure knowing they’re being watched 24/7 by a living legend, Andrew brushes off the notion.

“I’m still only 20,” said a laughing Bynum. “I think we’ll worry about that (pressure) if I’m doing the same things at 25.”

After the jump he made this summer, the thought of Andrew’s progress remaining at status-quo for the next five years is not just unlikely, but completely implausible.

While much has been made of his improvements on offense, Kupchak says his efforts on the defensive end are what have really impressed coaches this season.

“If you can defend at his level, in terms of size, athleticism and length, you can stay in a game,” said Kupchak. “We don’t have a problem scoring points on this team.”

“When he scores, I think that’s a big bonus because it creates high percentage shots and it’s demoralizing for an opposing team when you have a player making layups and dunks or going to the free throw line.”

Kupchak credits the Lakers coaching staff for nurturing Bynum in his first three years, maintaining high, but attainable expectations for Andrew.

“I think, primarily, the nurturing so to speak at this time really becomes a coach’s challenge on how to encourage a guy and congratulate a guy for having a good game,” said Kupchak.

The Lakers GM said one of the team’s biggest challenges this season is to ensure that Andrew does not become complacent as he is only beginning to grasp the depth of his enormous potential.

“To keep him hungry, keep him working and keep him producing to make him the best he can be…during the season, that falls primarily to our coaching staff.”

THE ROAD AHEAD
For all that has been made of Andrew’s rapid development, the Lakers coaching staff—and Bynum—know that he still has a long way to go to reach his full potential.

“I think that he’s shown that he belongs in this league and that he’s capable of taking a big step,” Kupchak said. “I think that’s what he did this summer, he made a big step.”

“People see that now and he sees it and feels it—and that’s important. Now he knows what it’s like to feel success and a lot of times, the more successful you are, the harder you work because you realize that success has a direct correlation with hard work."

Andrew admits that he needs to work on his defense if he hopes to be compared to the likes of defensive stars Tim Duncan and Marcus Camby.

“Defense, I’m not doing too good of a job, staying home and boxing out,” said Bynum.

His inefficiencies, both on defense and offense, were put under the magnifying class in the Lakers blowout loss to the Celtics two weeks ago.

“In physical games like that, Andrew gets knocked off his base so he doesn’t have the room or space to operate in…Andrew needs to go back and look at those games and ask himself how he can do better,” said Coach Jackson.

The game was a not so subtle reminder that despite the giant strides Andrew’s made this year, he’s not quite ready to be the next great Lakers center just yet.

According to recent comments by Jackson published in the Los Angeles Times, Jackson thinks that Andrew’s big jump could be fueled by financial gain.

"My guess is his contract," Jackson said. "Dollars are green. The idea, that 'Hey, it's coming up, I've got to get some traction here. This process is real short. "

While Jackson’s statements may ring true, no one can accuse Bynum of lacking personal motivation as he has grand ambitions for himself and knows that money will come with success on the court.

“I want to be an All-Star by my fourth year so I can still achieve that,” said Bynum.

With a plethora of superstar big men to look up to, Andrew hopes he can someday emulate the games of Shaquille O’Neal and Tim Duncan.

“I hope to be a mixture of the two,” said Bynum. “I like the way Shaq’s able to dominate. I like how Duncan may not be the biggest, most athletic guy, but some games he just bangs down there against guys who are bigger and more athletic, but he’s able to step his game outside and bring a big guy out and go around him with the same effectiveness.”

With a can-do attitude and a chip or two already on his shoulder, “someday” is quickly becoming today.

“I think if he can do this for the next season or two—I would think two seasons—in other words, make a big step in the offseason, then I think we have a very good player going forward,” Kupchak said. "That would bode well at that position for this organization for the next ten years, but that remains to be seen.”

What the team does know for sure is that they have one of the best up-and-coming players in the NBA and a team that is on the cusp of becoming a legitimate contender in the Western Conference.

Whereas Andrew’s vast potential used to be discussed as if it were a wild card, it is now become more a matter of when, not if, he realizes the full extent of it.

“I do think that he’s surprised some people around the league,” said Jackson. “He certainly hasn’t surprised us because we knew he was a player that had potential. Fulfilling that potential is his issue and he’s doing that.”